Evans’ appeal has temporarily halted his removal from office. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for July 23.

The county this year has been faced with the criminal convictions of two elected officials: Evans and Justice of the Peace Carlos Medrano. A third elected official, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, is under a federal corruption investigation and is expected to be indicted later this year.

But because Medrano is appealing that conviction, there is no official vacancy on the bench and therefore the Commissioners Court could not order a special election, County Judge Clay Jenkins has said.

Jenkins said he’s saving money by putting a different JP in that position because she (Sandra Ellis) lost her precinct in last year’s county redistricting but must be paid until 2014.

Jenkins said he doesn’t know whether the Commissioners Court can order a special election to replace Evans if his appeal fails. He said he would prefer that voters in Precinct 1 choose their own constable rather than have the court appoint someone.

Jenkins said he is awaiting guidance from Gordon Hikel, the chief of the district attorney’s civil division.